Trump says Secret Service advised plane change after NATO summit

President Joe Biden said the U.S. Secret Service had advised him to board a different aircraft after concluding the NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey, citing security considerations. In remarks made during a press briefing on Monday, the president confirmed that the agency recommended an alternate flight route for his return to Washington, D.C., but that he ultimately chose to travel on the originally scheduled plane.

The NATO summit, which ran from July 9‑11, brought together leaders from the alliance’s 31 member states to discuss collective defense and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While the president’s itinerary included a scheduled departure from Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport on the evening of July 11, the Secret Service’s suggestion was prompted by intelligence assessments of potential threats along the planned flight path. Biden’s decision to adhere to the initial travel plan underscores the administration’s confidence in the security measures already in place.